Tag Archives: Bob Murray

I know some of you are thinking, “Alright, now you’ve gone too far.” At first glance, there is no way that the New York Dolls could ever even obtusely be connected in any way shape or form to an article on hockey. If you’re highly offended, let me state you probably have good reason to be. In fact I’d completely understand if you immediately send these strange thoughts without delay to the trash bin. I’ll be the first to admit, even I thought long and hard about this piece. However I just can’t seem to get the Doll’s song “Funky But” out of my head. The thought about the song was pulled from the depths of my memory banks when I heard a conversation between the Ombudsman-Adam Fels, and his brother Sam.

I’m fortunate enough to have season tickets next to the Fel’s brothers, and often eavesdrop to try to glean some tiny morsels of their hockey wisdom. (Did anyone catch Sam’s description of Bob Murray adding Andrew Cogliano to the Ducks this year, “..akin to attempting to fix a leak in your bathroom sink by pouring Mountain Dew down it.”) I have to admit, I’m still disappointed Sam didn’t know who #62 on Anaheim was, but for the most part he’s a veritable wealth of hockey information. Anyway, I overheard the two bro’s talking about the New York Dolls, and butted into their conversation by saying “I saw them. They opened up for Mott the Hoople in the Auditorium Theatre back in the early 70’s.” One thing led to another and I can’t seem to get the one song of the Doll’s that I remember out of my head. Read more »

“I have nothing but great things to say about it. It didn’t work out contract wise with them, but they’re a first-class organization. The fans were unbelievable. The city is absolutely amazing. I really enjoyed being there and I was very fortunate to be able join the team when I did.” [Fan 590 Toronto]

Sunday was Bob Probert Day in his hometown Windsor, Ontario. 800 motorcyclists turned out for a memorial charity ride supporting a local hospital’s angioplasty program. Chris Chelios was there and served as honorary “captain” for the ride. July 5th is the one-year anniversary of Probert’s death.

Later on Sunday, Chelios was on hand at Detroit’s Fox Theatre for his buddy Eddie Vedder’s solo show. Vedder is at the Chicago Theatre tomorrow and Wednesday night. This was a big thrill for Chelios. I guess he kind of had to be there. During Vedder’s two and a half hour set Sunday, he dedicated his version of Bob Dylan’s “Forever Young” to Chelios. Detroit wasn’t a scheduled stop on Vedder’s current U.S. tour until Chelios did some persuading on his friend and Pearl Jam frontman. To oblige, Vedder cancelled an additional planned show in Philadelphia.

Chelios and Vedder met in San Diego in 1980-81 in that beach community’s surfing scene, in the summer months where the Chelios clan lived. They also worked for a time at opposite gas stations across the street from each other. The pair didn’t keep in touch and Chelios never put two and two together even after Pearl Jam burst onto the scene ten years later and Chelios became a fan. Back in San Diego, Eddie Vedder was actually Eddie Mueller. But one night in 1997, Vedder was out with Dennis Rodman in Chicago and happened to be at the same bar as Chelios. Vedder recognized Chelios, but as he put it (Vedder wasn’t a hockey fan), not from being a star NHL player, but from their old haunts on the surf. Vedder recounted to Chelios how the two knew each other from San Diego, but didn’t introduce himself as the famous rock singer and Chelios still didn’t put that together on his own. Vedder walked away realizing Chelios hadn’t the faintest recollection or idea who Vedder was. Shortly after, one of Vedder’s bodyguards (he is legitimately 5’4”) walked over and clued Chelios in and the two exchanged phone numbers. At times Chelios has arranged his summer schedule around Pearl Jam and Vedder shows in Chicago and Detroit. In 2008, Chelios planned his two days with the Stanley Cup around a Cubs game and a Vedder show at the Auditorium Theatre. A night John Cusak, John C McGinley (Scrubs) and Sean Penn were also on hand for. Chelios got a mixed reaction from the Chicago crowd when he raised the Stanley Cup under a spotlight from a balcony box in a planned spot to start Vedder’s set.

[Update] Corey Crawford is starting in goal for the Hawks today at Anaheim. (Twitter.com/ChrisKuc)

Defenseman Garnet Exelby agreed to a two-way (NHL/AHL) contract with the Blackhawks yesterday. As a necessary procedural thing, the Blackhawks then had to place Exelby on 24-hour waivers. Once Exelby passes through his contract then becomes official. If another team were to claim Exelby by 11am today, that team would then assume his new contract.

According to a CapGeek.com report this morning, Exelby’s contract is valued at the league-minimum $500,000 at the NHL level, and $105,000 in the AHL.

Exelby, 29, signed a professional tryout contract with the Rockford IceHogs on October 8th and was named team captain twenty-eight days later.

While a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs organization last season, Exelby appeared in 51 games with the Leafs, registering 1 goal and 3 assists. He was then in the final year of a three-year contract that paid him $1.725M.

This season, Exelby has appeared in 18 of the IceHogs 19 games (only missing the team’s opener the day after he signed). So far Exelby has no points and owns a minus-4 overall plus/minus rating.

Exelby is a physical, stay-at-home defenseman. He’s not the fleetest of foot but he gets to where he needs to be and typically plays within his known limitations. Exelby is a part of Rockford’s go-to crew of penalty killers and is almost never used on the power play. Read more »